Welcome to Bimmerfest -- The #1 Online Community for BMW related information! Please enjoy the discussion forums below and share your experiences with the 200,000 current, new and past BMW owners. The forums are broken out by car model and into other special interest sections such as BMW European Delivery and a special forum to voice your questions to the many BMW dealers on the site to assist our members!

I know a lot of you drive your 35 Msports like race cars but a big reason we are considering the X3 is because it is an SUV (or SAV).

Anybody know if there are different ratings for the 28 vs 35i as far as towing capacity? I know the threads where people have gotten the hitch installed usually throw out a number of 3500 lbs as the limit.

The only difference I can find online is that the order guide says the 28 comes with "8SL Trailer hitch prewiring" whereas the 35i does not seem to come with this. Does that mean it would be easier / cheaper to install a hitch on the 28?

The only difference I can find online is that the order guide says the 28 comes with "8SL Trailer hitch prewiring" whereas the 35i does not seem to come with this. Does that mean it would be easier / cheaper to install a hitch on the 28?

my 2011 came with the trailer hitch pre wire option. i have read towing capacities from 3500-5000lbs. i tow a 700# jetski, and am currently looking at pop-up campers under 3500#.

hitch install is 4-5 hours. the rear bumper cover and wheel well trims must be removed. extremely clean and hidden install. you can see the 4way, the 7way and the small cover over the hitch mounting point, but everything is black so not overly noticeable.

We have never seen a U.S. version of the X3 that did not come standard with the factory tow-prep wiring (the "8SL" package), whether the 28i or the 35i. I have no idea why the 8SL wiring would not be listed on the equipment list for the 35. We have certainly installed many hitches on the 35i, and all have had the factory tow-prep wiring.

Also, the 3,500 lb towing capacity for the X3 that BMW asserts in North America is actually limited by the Class 2 dealer hitch, not by the X3 itself. In other parts of the world where a heavier-duty, Class 3 "zero-play" hitch is the dealer hitch, BMW rates the towing capacity of the X3 at over 5,000 lbs. So it is a surprisingly stout tow vehicle when equipped with a proper Class 3 hitch.

a big bonus for the factory tow-prep wiring is the ball zoom feature mode the rear camera provides.

I think I know what you meant, but strictly speaking the "factory tow-prep wiring" is a reference to the 8SL wiring that comes standard on every X3. It provides the necessary connectors on the vehicle for an OEM trailer wiring harness, which you can get only with certain trailer hitches.

It is the OEM trailer wiring harness that provides certain nice features such as rear-camera "overhead zoom mode", automatic de-activation of the rear PDC sensors when a trailer is plugged in, and trailer stability control -- where the vehicle automatically initiates alternate-wheel braking to bring a snaking trailer back under control.

There are only two X3 hitches available in North America that come with the OEM trailer wiring harness: the Class 2 dealer hitch and the Class 3 invisihitch. (Our hitch comes packaged with the OEM harness because in other parts of the world the invisihitch is indeed the official BMW dealer hitch).

To the best of my knowledge, the X3 OEM trailer wiring harness is not available anywhere in the world as a separate part. It only comes packaged with the two hitches mentioned above.

It is the OEM trailer wiring harness that provides certain nice features such as rear-camera "overhead zoom mode", automatic de-activation of the rear PDC sensors when a trailer is plugged in, and trailer stability control -- where the vehicle automatically initiates alternate-wheel braking to bring a snaking trailer back under control.
Daryldaryl@invisihitch.com

I didn't know about the stability control feature, nice of you to post.

I have a OEM BMW trailer hitch installed on my X.3 and it's a class III. The local dealer installed.

I'm sorry, but the X3 dealer hitch is a Class 2 hitch, not a Class 3. BMW documents this fact on page 15 of its hitch installation instructions (see attached).

The only Class 3 hitch available for the X3 in North America is the invisihitch, and it comes with the exact same oem wiring harness as the dealer hitch. We spent a lot of R&D funds to attain this distinction, so I hope you don't mind my effort here to maintain a correct understanding.

I asked the dealer about installing the towing "stuff" when I purchased my 2013 X-3. He said to me your vehicle really isn't meant for towing. He also mentioned if I didn't buy the BMW OEM parts and have a dealer install the "stuff" I would be voiding my warranty. Is this true?

I asked the dealer about installing the towing "stuff" when I purchased my 2013 X-3. He said to me your vehicle really isn't meant for towing. He also mentioned if I didn't buy the BMW OEM parts and have a dealer install the "stuff" I would be voiding my warranty. Is this true?

There are much better SUVs out there for towing. As far as the aftermarket tow hitch, it will void the warranty if the aftermarket tow hitch cause the problem at hand.

I asked the dealer about installing the towing "stuff" when I purchased my 2013 X-3. He said to me your vehicle really isn't meant for towing. He also mentioned if I didn't buy the BMW OEM parts and have a dealer install the "stuff" I would be voiding my warranty. Is this true?

Not true. Installing aftermarket parts does not void your warranty. This is a common lie told by to many dealers to push sales of their stuff.

The only way it could void your warranty would be if they could prove that something you change actually caused a part covered by your warranty to fail.

I have a Yamaha XLT 1200. My next question is how do I learn to drive with the trailer on the ski? I have no problems going forward straight... but turning in reverse... or backing up into the garage... not so much. How do you guys learn this? Sorry I know it's a stupid question to you "guys" but I have to learn somehow.

a class 2 hitch is rated for 3500# class 3 5000#. i was out the door with the OEM hitch (3500#) from my dealer for around $450. do some price shopping, then decide what will be in your towing future.

Thanks, I'm only towing my jet ski so the class 2 should be fine. And I might use the trailer to get my Xmas tree this year. (obviously when the ski's not on it.) They quoted me $1,500 when I purchased my X-3, which is why I just bought the car a year ago thinking I'd deal with the hitch later. I'll be shooting for around $450.

I have a Yamaha XLT 1200. My next question is how do I learn to drive with the trailer on the ski? I have no problems going forward straight... but turning in reverse... or backing up into the garage... not so much. How do you guys learn this? Sorry I know it's a stupid question to you "guys" but I have to learn somehow.

the closer the wheels of the trailer to the hitch point the more difficult it is to back a trailer up. open the rear hatch and drop the rear seats for better visibility. as Colson79 posted practice, also look up on line trailer backing technique. there is an art to it and we that have many years of practice it's not that hard to do.

a few years ago i built a 40" bar extension out of some 2" square tube for towing my jet ski. it made it so much easier to back it into the tight spot i had in my garage for it. heck where in fl are you i dont have a need for it anymore if you'd care to buy it. pm an emaila ddy and ill send you a pick of it hooked to my X3 with the ski hitched up.